Events

Another Possible Piece Of Evidence Found In Ridgeway Case

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (CBS4) – There’s been a new development in the Jessica Ridgeway murder case as investigators are looking into a cluster of hair found near where the 10-year-old’s remains were discovered.

Police say someone walking in the area alerted them to the possible piece of evidence.

Ridgeway vanished on her way to school on Oct. 5. Police found some of her remains five days later in an Arvada open space park about seven miles west of her Westminster home.

Police are now working to confirm if the hair is human, synthetic or even animal. If it is human, police will then work to see if it’s linked to the Ridgeway case.

More leads have also been received by police.

On Monday a group of four people, some who appeared to be associated with law enforcement, were searching a field across the highway from where Ridgeway’s remains were found. The group had cameras with them. They wouldn’t confirm or deny if they were part of the Ridgeway investigation, but a short time later the group showed up at the Westminster Police Department and were inside for about three hours.

Police remain very confidential about the case. They said that is because they do not want inaccurate information in the hands of the public.

– Jessica Ridgeway, 10, disappeared on her way to school on the morning of Oct. 5. After leaving home on foot, she never met up with friends she normally walks to school with at Chelsea Park. The park is about three blocks from her home and about a mile from the school.

– When she didn’t arrive at Witt Elementary School in Westminster, Jefferson County Schools officials tried to contact her mother. They made a call at 10 a.m. but were only able to leave a voicemail. Ridgeway’s mother, who works an overnight shift and sleeps during the day, didn’t get the message until 4:30 p.m. and immediately contacted Westminster police.

– It took about five hours before the protocols were met in the case for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to call an Amber Alert.

– Ridgeway’s backpack was found on the sidewalk near Alpha Court and Andrew Drive in the Rock Creek neighborhood in Superior. That’s 6.4 miles away from her home. It’s unknown so far at what point the backpack wound up there.

– The CBI analyzed the backpack for DNA evidence and collected evidence from Ridgeway’s home for comparison.

– Searches were taking place around Jessica’s home and her school, as well as in open space areas in Westminster. Another area that underwent an extensive search was Rock Creek and open space areas near there.

– A day after their tearful televised plea for help and thanks to the community, police on Oct. 10 ruled out Ridgeway’s parents as being involved in her disappearance. Police said Ridgeway may have been abducted by an unknown suspect.

– Late in the day on Oct. 11 Ridgeway’s body is found in Arvada on Highway near Pattridge Park Open Space and Highway 93, about seven miles from Ridgeway’s home.